A Fan’s Notes: Ladies and Gentlemen, Remember Jones!

Ken Shane lives in Wakefield, RI. He is the New Music Editor for Popdose, and a freelance writer. Ken is far and away the oldest Popdose writer, in fact, he may be the oldest writer period. He wants you to know that he generally does not share his colleagues love for the music of the '80s, and he does not forgive them for loving it.

It seems that there are a number of musicians in NJ with the name Anthony D’Amato, or something similar enough to make it uncomfortable for all of the Anthonys. So after trying on a few different monikers, one of those Anthony D’Amatos took on the nom de guerre Remember Jones. I have no idea where it came from, but it’s a pretty cool name.

At that point our hero began assembling a large band that includes some of the Jersey Shore’s finest musicians, and started drawing large crowds with tributes to iconic albums like Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black, and Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs and Englishmen. In his most audacious move yet, Remember Jones will fill Asbury Park Convention Hall, something unheard of for a local musician whose name is not Bruce Springsteen, for a Soul Revue & Dance Party on Saturday night.

The occasion for the big show is the release of the album Ladies and Gentlemen, Remember Jones!, which was recorded live earlier this year at the Strand Theater in Lakewood, NJ. The release was made possible by a highly successful crowd funding campaign, and the Soul Revue & Dance Party is intended as a celebration of the release and a thank you to the fans.

In addition to Jones, a remarkable vocalist, the album features a 13-piece band, augmented by a four member string section, and seven backing vocalists. Ladies and Gentlemen, Remember Jones! was produced by Jones along with keyboard player and music director Mark Masefield, and includes songs by well known NJ songwriters like Rick Barry, Arlan Feiles, Lindsey Miller, and Bob Burger, alongside works by David Bazan, Glen Burtnik, and Idina Menzel.

The album’s first single is the joyously upbeat “Let ’em Look.” Jones works uncanny magic with Barry’s “All Your Mistakes Have Names,” transforming the darkly humorous folk song into something of a hip-hop epic, and Miller’s ballad “Miranda” serves as a fine showcase for Jones’ powerful vocals. The live version of “Viola,” Feiles’ tribute to civil rights martyr Viola Liuzzo, takes it to church. A most unexpected take on John Wozniak’s (Marcy Playground) “Sex and Candy” closes the album.

Truth be told, there is not a bad track on the album, and the quality of the live recording by Chris Everett, is remarkable.

Remember Jones is heading for big things. He is already expanding the band’s reach to venues throughout the country, no easy task for a band of this size, and winning new fans at every stop. It’s a show you don’t want to miss if it comes to your town. In the meantime, you can pick up a copy of Ladies and Gentlemen, Remember Jones! from any of your favorite online retailers beginning in the next couple of weeks.